Shooting at 4th of July parade in Chicago suburb Highland Park leaves 6 dead, two dozen hospitalized

The recent months have seen all community parades, grocery stores, churches, and schools become grounds for killing, shattering the rituals of American life. The shooting on July 4th was just the latest attempt to find a cause to celebrate the founding of the nation, as it came at a time when the bloodshed still holds together the bonds.

WATCH: Authorities give update following the shooting incident at the July 4 parade in Highland Park.

At a press briefing, the governor of Illinois, J.B. Pritzker, expressed that the destructive impact of our distinctively American crisis was magnified by an event commemorating the United States.

Traditional American weekly – yes, weekly – have shootings mass once a year, just during the celebration of the Fourth of July… I am furious because this should not be the way we have it.

In the early hours of the day, prior to the yearly festivity, numerous inhabitants had secured advantageous vantage points at a location along the parade path where the shooting transpired. Escaping in panic, countless spectators, some with evident bloodstains, were scattered by numerous discharged bullets. Abruptly and forcefully interrupted, they left behind a path of discarded belongings that depicted ordinary existence: a partially consumed packet of potato chips; a container of chocolate biscuits scattered on the lawn; a Chicago Cubs cap belonging to a child.

Barbara Harte, a 73-year-old resident of Highland Park, later stayed away from the mass shooting fearing parade, saying, “There is no safe place.”

Police have not disclosed any information regarding the victims or injured individuals. During a press briefing, Christopher Covelli, spokesperson for the Lake County Major Crime Task Force, mentioned that “multiple of the deceased victims” passed away at the location, while one was transported to a hospital and succumbed to their injuries there.

Mexico’s director for North American affairs, Roberto Velasco, stated on Twitter Monday that a Mexican citizen was among those who lost their lives. He mentioned that two other individuals from Mexico sustained injuries. According to Lake County Coroner Jennifer Banek, the five individuals who were fatally injured during the parade were adults. However, there is no available information regarding the sixth victim who was transported to a hospital and passed away there.

Dr. Brigham Temple, the medical director of emergency preparedness, stated that the children were approximated to be four or five individuals requiring medical attention, with their ages varying from 8 to 85. Additionally, he mentioned that all except one of them had sustained gunshot wounds. Following the attack, NorthShore University Health Center received a total of 26 patients.

The hospital in Highland Park still had two patients in stable condition, while the rest were moved to different hospitals. According to Temple, 19 of them received treatment and were released.

The gunman began shooting at approximately 10:15 a.M., When the procession was about three-quarters complete, according to officials.

The Police Commander, Chris O’Neill, said that a rifle was recovered at the scene where the attached ladder was found. He mentioned that the gunman apparently used a “high-powered” rifle to fire from a spot atop a commercial building, making it very difficult for him to see.

“Completely unpredictable, completely deliberate, and an extremely sorrowful day,” Covelli stated.

He said he had surged to assist Federal law enforcement in the urgent search for the shooter, who remains at large. President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden said they were shocked by the senseless gun violence, which has once again brought grief to the American community on this Independence Day.

Biden signed the broadest-ranging gun violence bill passed by Congress in decades, showing compromise on a long-intractable and deeply divided partisan issue.

The planned post-game fireworks show, which the Chicago White Sox also announced on Twitter, was canceled due to the shooting. In addition, events such as parades and fireworks in Evanston, Deerfield, Skokie, Waukegan, and Glencoe were also canceled, as it was noted that the Highland Park shooter was still at large in some of these areas. Authorities in several nearby cities cautioned that the suspect should still be regarded as armed and dangerous, although law enforcement believes there was only one shooter.

Over 100 law enforcement officials were summoned to the parade location or deployed to locate the alleged gunman.

Only designated law enforcement vehicles were permitted to pass through a secure outer boundary, as the police blocked off the roads that led to the house located in a picturesque neighborhood near a golf course. Positioned in the center of the road, a sizable armored truck with the label “Police Rescue Vehicle” drew the attention of certain officers who were armed with rifles. They encircled a residence that was identified as Crimo’s address in Highland Park.

Highland Park is a close-knit community of about 30,000 people located on the shores of Lake Michigan, just north of Chicago. This is where Michael Jordan, the famous and rich NBA player who lived in the city for years and played for the Chicago Bulls, including during the filming of several parts of John Hughes’ movies “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off,” “Sixteen Candles,” “Weird Science,” and “The Breakfast Club,” has long been drawn to sprawling lakeside estates and mansions.

Pritzker, a Democrat, pledged to provide assistance to the community and ensure that the perpetrator of the crime is brought to justice.

Pritzker stated, “there are no words for the type of evil that shows up at a public celebration of freedom, hiding on a roof and shooting innocent people with an assault rifle.”

People scattered as bottles of water and coffees were knocked over, along with lawn chairs and blankets. Behind, there were images of Cinderella adorned with a helmet and abandoned children’s bikes, some of which carried American flags – and dozens of baby strollers. The shooting occurred on both sides of Central Avenue, turning a once joyous event into a sudden and horrifying scene.

The kids are visibly startled by the loud noise as they scramble to the side of the road, where a siren is wailing nearby. Gina Troiani shot a video on her phone, capturing people yelling about a shooter until she realized it was fireworks. She heard a loud sound that she believed to be fireworks when she and her son lined up with his daycare class, ready to walk onto the parade.

“We simply begin sprinting in the opposite direction,” she informed The Associated Press.

The city’s website stated that the festivities included a parade, children’s pet show, and bike ride. The small group held American flags and ribbons that were curled and decorated with blue and red. Her 5-year-old son was riding his bike.

Troiani stated that she propelled her son’s bicycle, sprinting through the vicinity to return to their vehicle.

She remarked, “It was simply a kind of disorder.” “While searching for them, there were individuals who became disconnected from their loved ones. They began sprinting, while others simply abandoned their wagons and hastily picked up their children.”

Debbie Glickman, a resident of Highland Park who was on a parade float with her coworkers, witnessed people fleeing the area as the group was getting ready to make a turn onto the main route.

Below, it resembles utter pandemonium. We simply fled. We simply fled. Glickman informed the AP, “There’s an assailant, there’s an assailant, there’s an assailant,” individuals began uttering.

She did not hear any sounds or witness anyone who seemed to be harmed.

“I’m so freaked out,” she said. “It’s just so sad.”Output: “I’m extremely scared,” she stated. “It’s simply very sorrowful.”